I.CALL TO ORDER

II.ELECTION OF CHAIR AND
VICE-CHAIR

MOTION: to elect Marie Bell as Chair and David
Crowell as Vice Chair.

Crowell MOVED, Morrison SECONDED.

VOTE: 8-0.

III.BUDGET MESSAGE

Bill Van Vactor, County Administrator, gave his 2002 Budget
Message.

Sorenson asked about the policy for programs that are
grant-funded (including the County payments) that the Board would not be
authorizing unless they advocated for a program that demonstrated there would
be funding beyond the grant.

Van Vactor responded that he didn’t mean that the Board
wouldn’t accept the grant and operate the grant when it was applicable, he
meant to say that when the grant funds end--unless some funding is found from
some other source--the program would end.With regard to the Secure Rural Schools and Community Act of 2000 (which
is like a grant program) he suggested that they consider a development of
reserves so they could deal with the transition, on the assumption that they
would not be able to backfill the large amount of money and keep the programs
operating all at the same time working for renewal of the act, but give room to
cover the transition period.

IV.PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY
2002-03 PROPOSED BUDGET

Vice Chair Crowell opened up the Public Hearing.

Sister Monica Herran, of Volunteers in Medicine, 3321
W. 11th Eugene, explained that the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic is
devoted to giving free medical care to the low income, uninsured in Lane
County.She said it is based on a
successful model in South Carolina from 1992.She determined that there are 28,000 uninsured people in Lane County and
13,000 of those have an income level of between 100% and 200% of poverty level.She said they recognize the dignity of the
persons they see and they created a clinic that has a professional
atmosphere.She noted they do not
charge patients for their service, but given them an opportunity to donate
discretely to support the clinic.She
said their services are the same as what would be provided in a primary care
physician’s office, but in addition, they assist with prescriptions and arrange
for people to have laboratory work.She
said they broker the free services from specialists in the community.She noted all of this was possible because
they have a community of volunteers and donors.

Fred Hamlin, Board Member, Volunteers in Medicine,
3321 W. 11th Eugene, noted the Volunteers in Medicine started on
February 1, 2001, and they completed their first year and they were totally
self-sustaining from the benefits of the community.He said they were advised to start looking at alternative ways of
fundraising.He said they needed to
continue with their community sponsorship, create an events committee (to
solicit funding for events), working to secure grants and create a business
outreach chaired by Steve Duffy.He
stated that more employers cannot afford health insurance for their
employees.He noted that the Business
Outreach Committee had created a poster so people can start coming to the
clinic for health care and to solicit donations.He added they created an endowment.He said they are keeping the program active, leveraging Lane
County’s health benefit situation.

Brown asked how the White Bird Clinic differs from the
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic.

Hamlin noted the differences in services is that they take
appointments and hold the clinic open in the evenings for people who are
working on a longer term basis so they could come in after hours.He added they work in conjunction with White
Bird where they are referring patients back and forth to each other.He noted in their first year of operation,
they saw the equivalent of 25 patient visits per day.He said since the economy had changed, they are now seeing close
to 50 patient visits per day. He said
there is an increased need for their services due to the economy.

Travis Chapin, 3321 W. 11th Eugene, stated
he is a volunteer and a University of Oregon pre-med student.He said the educational experience at the
clinic has been wonderful in working with the volunteer physicians. He stated
the patients tell him it is the best health care they had received in years.

Delesa Meashintubby, 3321 W. 11th Eugene,
stated she is the front office coordinator at Volunteers in Medicine
Clinic.She said she makes the final
determination for eligibility based on the criteria that their Board had set
up.She said in order to qualify as a
patient for Volunteers in Medicine; they have to be a resident of Lane County,
Monroe or the Harrisburg vicinity. She said the medical condition can’t be
caused by a motor vehicle accident, covered by insurance or a work related
illness, or injuries that involve workers comp coverage.Also, if the patient doesn't qualify for the
Oregon Health Plan or has other health insurance.She said the household income has to be less than the 200% of the
federal poverty level. She stated the patient has to show eligibility
proof.She noted they are seeing a diverse
group of patients.She added they treat
all patients with dignity and respect to make sure they have a pleasant
experience.

Rebecca Chaite, 3321 W. 11thEugene, stated she was a patient at the
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic in March.She has post polio syndrome and she had to retire early.She added that medical care became a luxury
and she was thankful that the clinic was there.

Jo Ann Lozar, 3321 W. 11th, Eugene,
reported that a poll was taken and they learned that 40% of the patients that
had come to Volunteers in Medicine had not been to a doctor in two years or
more. She noted that for every dollar
spent, that $2.50 worth of services are rendered.She hoped the Budget Committee finds this project worthy of
support.

Green asked under what conditions could someone not qualify
for treatment.

Meashintubby responded that a person could not make more
than $1,476 gross per monthly income.She added if someone was eligible for the Oregon Health Plan, one visit
could possibly be given to a patient but they didn’t want to duplicate services.She noted that some veterans are also
eligible.She said it took a lot not to
be eligible.

Joy Marshall, 5166 Alpine Loop, Eugene, stated she
was with Stand for Children, a project of the Children’s Defense Fund.She noted there are 140 members who are
concerned with early care and education (age 0-5).She said if resources could be put out now there would be less
required in the future.She stated that
for every dollar spent that $7.00 in public expenses could be saved in the
future.She said the funds would be
spent to raise the level of teaching and the profession.She noted their proposal is based on North
Carolina’s model.She added they were
also asking for funds from the Cities of Eugene and Springfield and from
federal child care dollars.She said
they have to change the level of environment and make the children more ready
for school.She said with their
proposal, the money goes to training, education and financial incentives.She didn’t want any funds removed from any
other projects regarding children and families.She hoped the Budget Committee could find reserves to support
their cause.

Gibby Bridge, Lane Family Connection, stated they
provide specialists for resource and referral work with childcare
providers.She explained they help
parents find childcare,and provide
training for child care providers.She
noted they had seen an increase in the need for more training.She said that providers need incentives
beyond the mandated training.She
explained that early childhood experiences share entire futures.She was supportive of Lane County Cares and
thinks it would be a solution to the problem of helping children and parents in
Lane County.

Jane Wagner, 1183 Van Buren, Eugene, stated she works
in early childhood education and is a consultant member of Stand for Children.She said their support is important and the
community has to come together for the needs of children and supporting early
childcare and education.She noted it
takes people who are committed and who keep up with training.She added that people in the field are paid
$7.00 to $8.00 an hour and children are at risk.She asked the Budget Committee to Support Lane County Cares, as
it is important to look at childcare jobs as being significant.She said it requires people to make a
difference for the next generation.

Davis Wilson, 271 N. Grand, Eugene, stated she is a
toddler teacher with EWEB.She stated
that Lane County Cares has a proven track record for quality child care.She was concerned about the attrition rate
and the affect on children.She noted
it was a challenge to make ends meet in the industry.She urged the Budget Committee to support this, as it is
important to get decent people in the field and pay them well.

Freddie Tryk, 1855 Olive St., Eugene, stated she was
with Food for Lane County.She urged
the Budget Committee to support human services in Lane County.She said what is needed are strong
partnerships.She noted that the USDA
rated the State of Oregon number one in hunger.She said conditions are putting stress on families in Lane
County.She noted that Food for Lane
County contains 80 agencies throughout the county.She said since they have moved to their new location, they went
from distributing 2.2 million pounds of food to over 6 million pounds.She said Food for Lane County has made a
difference to Lane County families with financial resources and urged the
Budget Committee to continue to support the basic needs of Lane County
families.

There being no one else signed up to speak, Vice Chair
Crowell closed the Public Hearing.

Brown asked how much Food for Lane County was asking for
food distribution.

Tryk responded that $105,000 goes into the food
distribution.She said it allows them
to warehouse the food and transport it to programs in rural areas.She said it is the money that actually helps
deliver the food to the client.

Steve Manela, Human Services, noted the total that the Human
Services Commission gives Food for Lane County is $215,000 but the portion that
Tryk discussed was for food distribution.He added the other amount goes into the food-purchasing fund that allows
them to buy food that is not donated.

V.APPROVAL OF
LANE COUNTY BUDGET COMMITTEE MINUTES

May 8, 2001, 6:15 p.m. meeting

May 10, 2001, 5:15 p.m. meeting

May 15, 2001, 5:15 p.m.

August 6, 2001, 11:30 a.m. meeting

December 12, 2001, noon meeting

MOTION: to approve the minutes of all of the
meetings.

Dwyer MOVED, Morrison SECONDED.

VOTE: 9-0.

VI.REVIEW BUDGET
PROCESS AND THE SCHEDULE

Brown had concerns about the schedule, as the committee had
never gone into June before.She
suggested meeting on May 23 and canceling the June 6 meeting.

Dwyer noted that it was a down week for the Board and there
wouldn’t be a quorum.

Tanya Heaton, Senior Management Analyst, noted there are only
scheduled budget activities through May 28, with May 30 open for any
discussion.She suggested waiting until
the May 9 meeting to decide how many more meetings would be needed.

Bell thought they could get the work of the whole committee
done in the framework projected.She
didn’t think they would have the time to have all their questions
answered.She suggested adding more
question and answer time on May 16.

Jones wanted to stick with the schedule and stay on task to
make sure they are prepared.She had
other commitments and couldn’t come on May 16.She said if extra dates were needed, there were some reserved in June.

Bell wanted a pre-meeting on May 16 so they could ask any
add-package questions at the pre-meeting on May 28.

Green said if staff were available he would be in agreement.

Heaton stated she would send e-mails out to the departments
about the meeting on May 16.She said
in fairness to the departments, if the Budget Committee wanted responses to
their questions they should be given to her by May 9.

Utecht stated they had done 12 major internal investigations
within the past year and developed an investigation protocol which is being
sent to other counties.

Utecht explained that they have an aging employee population
base and benefits would be used more.She added that 50% of the workforce is close to retirement and costs are
higher.She noted that benefits are
going to be the major issue that needs to be resolved from the bargaining
units.She said they are going to have
to study the cost of living increases, given what the benefits are projected to
cost.She said if they were to
implement a 2% cost of living over the course of the next five years, they
would be looking at $11 million dollars in costs.

Black stated that access to data is getting easier with more
information available.He noted the
goal is to get fiber optic infrastructure throughout the county and for each of
the partner agencies to share the same fiber when appropriate.He stated that portal technology was the
most significant change.He said he was
having someone investigate portable hand-held devices that could be used to
access e-mail and calendars anywhere in the world.He is also working on Forest Work Camp satellite connectivity.